Iran: Nuclear plan 'positive' but 'ambiguous'

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator says a proposal by the world's biggest powers to curtail Tehran's uranium enrichment program contains "positive steps" but also "ambiguities."

Ali Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Tuesday the package of incentives and penalties "is a framework for cooperation" and will be studied "clause by clause."

"The proposals had some positive steps in them and some ambiguities, which should be removed," Larijani said in comments broadcast on Iranian state-run television.

U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday it was "positive" that Iran is taking the proposal seriously, but he emphasized again that the Islamic republic must suspend uranium enrichment before negotiations can begin.

"We will see if the Iranians take our offer seriously," Bush told reporters in Laredo, Texas, on Tuesday. "The choice is theirs to make."

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that among the incentives in the package is a provision for the United States to supply Tehran with some nuclear technology.

One diplomat who was familiar with the plan described the U.S. nuclear offer as particularly significant, the AP reported, because it would in effect loosen a decades-long American embargo on giving Iran access to "dual-use" technologies -- equipment and know-how that has civilian and military uses.

The incentives agreed on last week by the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia -- the five veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council -- plus Germany also include European offers of help in building nuclear reactors for a peaceful energy program, diplomats told the AP.

They also said the United States had agreed to provide Boeing aircraft parts for Iran's aging civilian fleet, the AP reported.

Larijani spoke Tuesday in Tehran after meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who presented the proposals to Iranian officials.

"We had constructive negotiations," Larijani said.

The meeting took place at the Supreme National Security Council building, which was off-limits to journalists, the AP reported.

"We spoke for two hours, and they gave their proposals. After reviewing it, Iran will give its answer," Larijani told Iranian reporters after the meeting. His comments were later relayed to Reuters.

Washington has no diplomatic relations with Iran.

However, the United States last week agreed to join European allies in negotiations with Tehran if Iran suspends its uranium enrichment program and resumes full cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran says it wants to pursue nuclear power for peaceful purposes, but the United States and European Union fear it harbors aspirations to be armed with nuclear weapons.

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